The Washington Monthly

December 22, 2008

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.... A global recession is tough on most businesses, but the president is doing his part to stimulate at least one part of the economy -- in Turkey.

Seems that shoe an Iraqi journalist threw at him last week has become a hot-ticket item, with orders for 300,000 pairs pouring in from Iraq, the United States and Iran, Bloomberg News reported.
The Turkish shoe manufacturer, Ramazan Baydan, said he may rename the brown shoe, called "Model 271," the "Bush Shoe" or "Bye-Bye Bush," and he's hired an agency to look into television advertising.

The new orders for the shoe are four times what he normally sells in a year for that model, he said, so the company is going to hire 100 more people to boost production. In addition to orders in the Middle East, Baydan said he's received a request for 4,000 pairs of shoes from a Maryland-based company called Davidson.

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. Executives at Ramazan Baydan are no doubt wondering why someone couldn't have thrown one of their shoes at Bush even sooner.

—Steve Benen 9:20 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (9)

Comments

Now this is funny!

Posted by: The Galloping Trollop on December 22, 2008 at 9:36 AM | PERMALINK

Will Nike be introducing the Air Bush soon?

Posted by: martin on December 22, 2008 at 9:43 AM | PERMALINK

I'd buy a pair. 4000 pairs coming to the states? Sign me up. This might be trendier than a Brooklyn hipster in a college bar on a Thursday night.

Posted by: Mick on December 22, 2008 at 9:52 AM | PERMALINK

With 608,000 shoes (The "Bushwhacker" model) chances are good that at least one will meet Bush's face.

Posted by: MissMudd on December 22, 2008 at 10:22 AM | PERMALINK

Presumably this means the Big Three can be saved if someone is industrious enough to slap together a giant trebuchet and launch Chrysler Crossfires at the White House.

Posted by: SpaceSquid on December 22, 2008 at 10:30 AM | PERMALINK

Too bad they weren't Bruno Maglie. Or Timberland.

Posted by: Danp on December 22, 2008 at 10:42 AM | PERMALINK

A bronzed pair could be placed in the Men's Room at the SMU Shrub Library, perhaps next to those of LC. Love the touch that they are going to have copies of "My Pet Goat" hanging from the stall walls. And copies of the Constitution will be available in roll form.

Send bronzed Baydan's to your "favorite" RepuG politician.

Posted by: berttheclock on December 22, 2008 at 10:51 AM | PERMALINK

Send bronzed Baydan's to your "favorite" RepuG politician.

Or better yet, save your money and use the old Hardball Express.

Posted by: Danp on December 22, 2008 at 11:23 AM | PERMALINK

Early reports were that he changed out of some western made shoes to 'Iraqi' ones to make a point. Well now that would have to be amended to 'Mid-Eastern' ones. But the point remains as does the grateful Turkish shoemaker. At least someone will have some nice Christmas sales this season.

Posted by: Bruce Webb on December 22, 2008 at 8:17 PM | PERMALINK

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